And so, life went on for the little dragon that wished she could. Only difference being lately the world seemed more ‘vivid’ to everyone.

Other than helping do odd jobs at home she continued to adventure out with her best friend and childhood friend - just like any hero should!

Except the childhood friend actually won this time!

However, the problem with falling into a pattern is it starts to get easy and Eel wasn’t exactly one to enjoy ‘relaxing’ full time. If one had to describe her in a sentence the last thing one would say is ‘content with where she’s at’.

Sure, as a dragon she loved to eat and sleep but even more importantly she enjoyed hunting!

Hunting things she’s never hunted before is fun but never finding something challenging to hunt is… Boring her. She demands some challenge every now and again and seeks to explore her limits - she also isn’t afraid of what would happen if she finds them.

Even Emily knows this - if Elizabeth Jr is to die it won’t be in bed peacefully surrounded by those she loves. Even if she were about to drop down from illness or was mortally wounded it wouldn’t stop her from returning to the wild.

The hunt calls her and it demands she moves forward as you can’t chase prey without first building up momentum.

It also took awhile but seeing her ‘hunt’ reminded other her elders of a note fairly quickly.

She never has been human or an elf despite how she looks at a glance - she’s a beast.

Often coming home covered in the blood of an enemy (sometimes not that of a beast) and her preferred way of serving meat also hinted at this. Without being drained of blood or practically burned to ash - also known as the ways you're most likely to have been killed by a certain type of lizard.

Even her small little actions led to this conclusion. For example, despite a normal person perhaps using inspect or even just picking it up; meanwhile her first instinct is to sniff it and then if it doesn’t smell particularly bad to her lick it.

“Often I think that if she wasn’t born in a city she would’ve treated it as just another hunting ground…” <Ali>

The half-elf sighed out while gently massaging her forehead, across from her would be her best friend and Kesa - her child. Her left breast would be currently exposed as Kesa pressed his face against his mothers chest where the soft sound of him suckling could be heard - using one hand to support her child and the other to gently rub his back as she weaned him.

“You’ve made an incorrect assumption - she originally treated the city more like a lion's den after meeting her father but look at how many ‘crooks’ she’s managed to walk into. It’s clear that she is in fact treating the city as a hunting ground but just of another type - us mages wouldn’t know the finer but we change our spells depending on the environment? A hunter then obviously must change tactics and… I think she’s building up her reputation to catch the biggest game of all.” <Lisa>

“Wait… You don’t mean she actually intends to kil-. Wait, it’s not like she kills everyone - she constantly sneak attacks Earl.” <Ali>

“No, I don’t think she wants to merely ‘kill’ him. I’ve already told you, she’s a hunter and a hunter that always seeks new, interesting and bigger prey. Some she lets go like a fisher will occasionally let go of his fish as it’s the sport of the hunt she enjoyed… But at the same time there is nothing sweeter than the taste of a tough hunt.” <Lisa>

“So you're saying Eel isn’t just a monster but also a cannibal? How can you even know this?!” <Ali>

Alicia obviously wasn’t pleased with the way this conversation was going. Originally she was speaking to her friend in order to get some advice about how to ‘carefully steer’ Elizabeth Jr away from her less than human displays.

In return her friends just said it was natural she’d act this way! But the verbal blows her friend delivered weren’t over just yet.

“To the question of being a cannibal… That one is harder to justify but they do appear to be very different dragons in her defense.” <Lisa>

<Though I doubt cannibalism would stop her… Not very heroic.>

Lisa thought before she continued.

“But as for me knowing… Are you really asking this?” <Lisa>

She said while motioning her head down where Kesa would just be finishing up with his snack, letting out a small burp as Lisa caringly rubbed the side of his lips with a handkerchief.

“Although him and Kee may act this way in public they too share traits with Elizabeth - in fact I’m sure you already know they often go out during weekdays when we’re less busy. According to Kee as well, she instinctively looks up to Eel as a ‘potential pack leader’ I believe she said…” <Lisa>

Lisa soon put Kesa down as he tumbled his way over to some figures in the corridor where he’d continue to play with some animal plushies made by a certain Cow Succubus. For his age he seemed quite knowledgeable about the animals they were based on - including which hunted which and certain habits.

“As for her being a monster, she’s obviously not. She does differ from my pair quite a bit though - her trueform likely isn’t humanoid for one and the only reason she is stuck in such a form is due to how dragons work as a species. It’s you that’s expecting her to act just like her mother instead of the dragon she is.” <Lisa>

After receiving blow after blow, Ali just lay on her chair and took in a deep breath with her eyes closed. She couldn’t exactly refute a lot of the points but she still couldn’t help herself.

“But she also isn’t a dragon - she’s a half blood-” <Ali>

“What do you think about Leaf?” <Lisa>

“What do you mean? She’s been around longer than us and never really spoke to anyone but Eel, then later her Eel Jr and Emily.” <Ali>

“Although I don’t think she’s tricking them… I have a hunch she’s likely not as simple as we think. In fact, I have a feeling she knows more than we do about Elizabeth Jr by far.” <Lisa>

“What do you mean, she’s been stuck in this building for decades and we already know she never talks to anyone… Are you saying she has some contact with someone through her clients?” <Ali>

“No, I think it’s something far bigger than that. I’ll ask one last question - what connects a World Tree, Dragons, Elves, Succubus and Nature Spirit altogether?” <Lisa>

Lisa stood up and Ali opened her eyes wide in shock as she already had a few things in mind that connect all those mostly disconnected things together - rather a word.

“Wait! What do you mean world tree, there isn’t a single one around in this country as most are either in elf lands or in the wild lands!” <Ali>

To this, while already halfway out the door Lisa was about to answer when she and Ali both saw something that caused them to jump…

Waiting patiently for their talk to be over stood a 5’4 Templar in a set of beautifully crafted, pure white armour. The white background of the plated armour was accented with turquoise that formed many ‘heavenly’ patterns of the armour. The plated armour also seemed to have a fairly large chest area but their experience in their field had them question if the chest piece was filled even a bit.

It was easy to think that this templar, with her short height and beautiful armour, may have just been a prop to show off the wealth of the church. Many of such churches did so but the two magic users knew better…

The amount of magic in those plates alone was more than what they held in their entire bodies - more than that was the sword on her hip which seemed to follow a similar pattern as the armour of not just looking expensive but being effective.

The both had never seen such items with the highest ranked items they’d seen being Silver grade. If they knew this wasn’t just ‘Gold’ but in fact ‘Holy Relic’ they may pass out - not even royal families could afford that by selling their country.

Her long silver hair glimmering beautifully from under the helmet while her eyes seemed to be closed. Said helmet hiding her appearance.

In fact, neither of the pair had seen anyone as strong as the girl in front of them...

Until they looked at the woman warmly smiling at them from beside the Templar.

Standing at an overwhelming 7 feet with closed eyes. She wore an outfit that looked like she belonged sailing the seas but with a large white coat that - despite contrasting her appearance before - seemed to belong.

She had a kind appearance - including a warm smile like a mother watching over their child.

She certainly seemed like a mother with her fitting the mold of a ‘kind MILF’ and the sight of those massive assets and mature figure. That’s not to say she was butter-face, it would be quite impossible to find anyone more beautiful as she seemed like perfectly sculpted with the concept of ‘mature divine beauty’ in mind.

It was hard for the two women of the brothel to not blush at her appearance - if they could get a client that looked like this they wouldn’t accept money but may even pay her for the privilege…

But there was something about her that seemed… Familiar. It reminded her of Elizabeth but for some reason felt even closer to Elizabeth Jr. But one reason came to mind in an instant… That unsurmountable pressure unique to the strong…

Except comparing this strength to the mere bloodline of the little dragon, that fake hero or anyone they’ve ever said would be like comparing a raindrop to a waterfall.

And, what made them shudder and not know what to say or do was what they saw on her right hip.

Although one was empty - three sheaths for three curved swords.

Soon, the templar spoke with an equally kind voice. She was soft spoken and polite, like one would when speaking to a senior despite her being far older than the pair.

“Excuse me, I’m Sierra. Sorry to disturb you but my adopted mother is quite worried about my niece so we’re trying to find her servant -  I believe there should’ve been a dark-elf living here, we would like to request a word with her.” <Templar>

***

“Eel, I think we should run…” <Fuka>

“I refuse to run away from some sub-dragons~!” <Eel>

It at first may sound like she was just displeased for the usual reason dragon’s dislike sub-dragons… But the grin on her face seemed more like she was pleased than angry at the creatures.

In front of the trio would be a giant green lizard that was staring them down while in the air would be the even more highly ranked than the High B-Rank creature in front of them.

Flapping it’s two large bat like wings as it’s claws seemed ready to maul something - flying over to the trio and the giant green lizard. It was also a lizard with orangey-red scales and a bad temper - a wyvern would be flying over with a fierce roar!